This book was a complete surprise. I went in almost blind and came out enlightened!
It is 1973 and 75-year-old Imogene Taylor has a job to keep. After This book was a complete surprise. I went in almost blind and came out enlightened!
It is 1973 and 75-year-old Imogene Taylor has a job to keep. After all, her parole officer could turn up any time. After spending 12 years in prison for the murder of her husband, Imogene now just wants to lie low. Should be easy for an old woman to lead a quiet life, shouldn't it?
The story starts slow but quickly builds up pace. I liked Imogene a lot - I keep liking old characters who are also badass and I see a pattern.
This is my first David Putnam book and I am surprised I have never heard of this author before. Note to self - need to spend some more time on GR.
4 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and Level Best Books for the ARC....more
This collection of (sometimes extremely) short stories were different in a refreshing way. They were stories of men you meet daily, often tired of theThis collection of (sometimes extremely) short stories were different in a refreshing way. They were stories of men you meet daily, often tired of the world and trying to come up on top.
The author's humour was just right - satirical, yet benevolent - and it hit the right notes at the right times.
As always, this collection was a mixed bag, from some memorable stories to some forgettable ones. But overall, it was a good collection. I went in without any expectations and was pleasantly surprised, though.
3 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and Cameron Publicity & Marketing Ltd for the ARC....more
I literally flew through this book. It was super fast-paced and unputdownable. I picked it up without any expectations, but it entertained me more thaI literally flew through this book. It was super fast-paced and unputdownable. I picked it up without any expectations, but it entertained me more than I expected. And finished it in one day!
The book needs some suspension of disbelief (okay, quite a lot of suspension), but it manages to deliver. Best for lovers of Freida McFadden and the dystopian books of John Marrs.
3.5 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC....more
It is my life's aim to read all the retellings of P&P. But this one did not cut it. You cannot make a retelling by lifting entire plots and dialogues It is my life's aim to read all the retellings of P&P. But this one did not cut it. You cannot make a retelling by lifting entire plots and dialogues and just putting them in a different setting.
Of course, the hero earns in aurums than pounds. Of course, they send comcasts instead of letters. But that was about it.
2 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and Union Square & Co. for an ARC....more
Jeffery Deaver is quickly becoming one of my auto-pick authors but I had not read anything by Isabella Maldonaldo yet. This book was a good entry intoJeffery Deaver is quickly becoming one of my auto-pick authors but I had not read anything by Isabella Maldonaldo yet. This book was a good entry into her writing.
I quite enjoyed the fast pace of this book. This is typical of JD books. I thought some chapters in between suffered from "too much explanation" syndrome. In these chapters, all the points are thoroughly explained so that even the half-asleep reader does not miss anything. But what about the reader who falls asleep due to all this over-simplification?
Sanchez and Heron were a good pair - one is the strength while the other is the brains. But Heron irritated me sometimes. I liked Sanchez a lot. She was decisive and maintained her character throughout.
3.5 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC....more
If you are looking for a taut thriller, this is it. A well-written story with some exceptional characters. This was my first J.H.Markert book and I waIf you are looking for a taut thriller, this is it. A well-written story with some exceptional characters. This was my first J.H.Markert book and I was pleasantly surprised.
I feel that the plot could have been tighter in some places but I am not complaining much.
4 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC....more
2 writers - one debutante and another well-established but facing a major writer's block get together to write a novel. Will it work out?
Well, it woul2 writers - one debutante and another well-established but facing a major writer's block get together to write a novel. Will it work out?
Well, it would have if Marcel, the established writer, hadn't been such an a-hole.
I am sorry for the language but Marcel singlehandedly ruined the book for me. I don't know if he was genuinely mean or just lost in translation but I hated him to hell and beyond.
On the other hand, Siobhan was a relatable character. Though why she was attracted to Marcel is beyond me.
1.5 stars rounded up to 2.
Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Crossing for the ARC....more
I picked Midwestern Gothic immediately after Stephen King's short story collection and I now realize that was a mistake. The writing was too similar aI picked Midwestern Gothic immediately after Stephen King's short story collection and I now realize that was a mistake. The writing was too similar and I had to take a break to collect my thoughts.
Midwestern Gothic is a collection of four short stories, though novellas would be a better description. Written by the author of Kill Creek, these stories seem to be an extension of this book. However, I have not read Kill Creek, but did not feel any sense of displacement.
Let me rate each story one by one:
The Door in the Field - 3 stars This one started off well enough and was proceeding in a leisurely fashion before suddenly turning unexpectedly gory. I was expecting some violence (okay, I was expecting vampires - real ones, not sparkly goody-two-shoes), but even so, this level of violence caught me unawares. I also did not understand the ending? So is Rayland an accessory or not??
Wear Your Secret Like a Stone - 2 stars I could not see the point of this story at all. There were some scary scenes that made me scared to turn the page, but they just petered out? What was all that for then? I liked this one least.
The Boy in the Woods - 4 stars At last a story I could sink my teeth into. And I was quite happy with it, even with the high levels of violence and gore. Some things could have been omitted but I think gore-induced horror was what the author was going for. Perfect content for a slasher movie.
One Half of a Child’s Face - 5 stars Finally, FINALLY, a story I loved. I love psychological horror - the one in which we know there is evil but we cannot see it. One Half of a Child’s Face did it beautifully. Though some parts are unexplained (what happened to Mr. Lonely?) and the ending was overly cinematic, the entire story was thoroughly gripping. This one gets all the stars.
All in all, an anthology collection that I liked. Did not give me nightmares (for most part), but I enjoyed them.
Domestic thrillers that can keep you on the edge are great. His Last Wife is one of them.
Ruhi Choudhary is a new author for me, though I have heard ofDomestic thrillers that can keep you on the edge are great. His Last Wife is one of them.
Ruhi Choudhary is a new author for me, though I have heard of her books quite often. I picked this one up just to sample her writing. I was not disappointed.
Suspend some disbelief and go on this journey. You will be rewarded too. I was often reminded of Rebecca, especially in the first part.
3.5 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC....more
I was looking for a light read between two heavy books and landed on this one. The timing was propitious. Go in expecting a fun time and have fun. TheI was looking for a light read between two heavy books and landed on this one. The timing was propitious. Go in expecting a fun time and have fun. There is not much of a story for too much scrutiny, and, as a breezy romcom, it should not.
4 stars and a promise to read more Portia MacIntosh books.
Usually I like Jeffery Deaver's writing but this book didn't work all too well for me. The story was good, actually, and I liked both Constant MarloweUsually I like Jeffery Deaver's writing but this book didn't work all too well for me. The story was good, actually, and I liked both Constant Marlowe (who was ever-present) and the twist at the end. I was not expecting that!! But the roundabout way in which this book was written irritated me. There was no need for certain things to happen (view spoiler)[the fight in the alley and the "accident" (hide spoiler)] and they made no sense as well. Then why were they there in the book?
I still like JD's writing and will look forward to his other works.
This novella gets 3 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC....more
We all know about Medea - the one who did not flinch from murdering her children when Jason left her. She is an ultimate villain - a kinslayer. But whWe all know about Medea - the one who did not flinch from murdering her children when Jason left her. She is an ultimate villain - a kinslayer. But what made her do it?
Medea by J.J. Taylor attempts to peel off the layers of this complex personality. The book is narrated in first person by Medea and being in her head was not as bad as I thought. She is quite ordinary otherwise -except when she is touched by God. The meeting with Jason, his subsequent challenges, and their flight from her father's palace is all very thrilling. I liked the way the way female friendships and relationships are portrayed as well.
One thing that could be worked upon is the length of the novel. After a while, it became tiring to read about the Argonauts reaching a village and something surprising happening to them there.
I enjoyed this novel and will definitely explore more of J.J. Taylor.
4 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for this ARC....more
I am always interested in reading books by unreliable narrators and Camille was one of the best examples of one of them.
Brought up by a vindictive motI am always interested in reading books by unreliable narrators and Camille was one of the best examples of one of them.
Brought up by a vindictive mother, Camille is always looking over her shoulder. When she finally builds her own world, Camille is shocked to see her daughter Georgie exhibit disturbing behaviours, some of which can be traced back to the abuse of her own childhood.
But Camille's mother does not know where they live. Does she?
Gripping and fast-paced, this book was a great pageturner.
This was my first Minka Kent and I think I will read more of her.
4 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC....more
An epic tale spanning continents. But was it enough to capture attention?
The Story:
Abbas is a 17-year-old toy maker in Mysore. His toys catch Tipu SulAn epic tale spanning continents. But was it enough to capture attention?
The Story:
Abbas is a 17-year-old toy maker in Mysore. His toys catch Tipu Sultan's attention and he is summoned to court to make an automaton. Abbas is expected to assist French clockmaker Lucien du Leze. And they do manage to build the automaton. But at what cost?
What I Liked:
I have briefly read about Tipu Sultan in my history books. However, not being from Karnataka, we never had any in-depth discussion about him. For example, I didn't know he was interested in rocketry. Neither did I ever read any book about him. This book proved to be very educational. I am now ashamed that I did not know about one of the pivotal rulers of India.
When I picked this book, I was expecting grandiose descriptions (at least an elephant on the street? wearing jasmine flowers?). But I was pleasantly surprised. It is a novel about India as it should be. Yes, we are in ancient India, but people are not sprinkling rose water in their living rooms.
The writing was also really enjoyable. Though prosaic, it never became too heavy to overwhelm. It flowed easily and made me want to read on to know more about the characters.
What I Disliked:
I would not say this is an outright dislike but I think that the characters could have been more detailed. Abbas is the protagonist of the book and even until the end, I could not figure out what his true nature was. The others were a bit better - Lucien, Jehanne, and even Rum. But I would have loved to know them just a little more.
Another thing that irked me was that I could not specify the genre of this book. Is it a coming-of-age story? A mystery? A heist? A love story? Because there was a bit of everything in it. Maybe that is what the writer intended, for our lives hardly follow a single path.
Final Thoughts:
I have longed for a novel on India that wouldn't go overboard (i.e. not be written for Western audiences). Loot is the perfect example of it. It should be hyped more and be brought before a larger audience.
4 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for the ARC.
Ellie is an average woman you'll meet on your way to work. She has three sons, lives with her longtime partner, Cam, and her parents live nearby.
Her Ellie is an average woman you'll meet on your way to work. She has three sons, lives with her longtime partner, Cam, and her parents live nearby.
Her partner works away from home, coming home only once in two weeks. Yet Ellie doesn't complain. She tries her best to be a good mother, partner, and daughter.
But the more she tries, the more she feels she is falling short. Of course, she has the usual concerns of every mother, but she doesn't feel she is a good partner or a daughter. She cannot seem to get rid of the paranoia and anxiety that plague her. What if she doesn't perform up to their expectations?
Plus, there is the added problem of her nightmares. Her partner has long learned to ignore them. But they occur daily, disrupting her sleep and giving her shivers. And now, she has to contend with her old university housemate and her partner's friend who seems to hold an unnatural sway on her partner.
If you go into this book looking for instant action and gratuitous violence, you will be disappointed. It unfolds slowly, exposing layer by layer of Ellie's worries and anxieties. We are given a ringside view of Ellie's thought processes. It is a slow burning, intense book.
I liked the language and the detailed characterization. Even side characters like Hen and Paul are well-defined. The author has managed to tie up most of the loose ends in the end as well.
This is my first book by Caroline England but I think I'll read her other books as well.
4 stars.
Merged review:
Ellie is an average woman you'll meet on your way to work. She has three sons, lives with her longtime partner, Cam, and her parents live nearby.
Her partner works away from home, coming home only once in two weeks. Yet Ellie doesn't complain. She tries her best to be a good mother, partner, and daughter.
But the more she tries, the more she feels she is falling short. Of course, she has the usual concerns of every mother, but she doesn't feel she is a good partner or a daughter. She cannot seem to get rid of the paranoia and anxiety that plague her. What if she doesn't perform up to their expectations?
Plus, there is the added problem of her nightmares. Her partner has long learned to ignore them. But they occur daily, disrupting her sleep and giving her shivers. And now, she has to contend with her old university housemate and her partner's friend who seems to hold an unnatural sway on her partner.
If you go into this book looking for instant action and gratuitous violence, you will be disappointed. It unfolds slowly, exposing layer by layer of Ellie's worries and anxieties. We are given a ringside view of Ellie's thought processes. It is a slow burning, intense book.
I liked the language and the detailed characterization. Even side characters like Hen and Paul are well-defined. The author has managed to tie up most of the loose ends in the end as well.
This is my first book by Caroline England but I think I'll read her other books as well.
I went into this book totally blind. TBF, I thought this was a thriller. Which it was, in a way...
What I Liked: 1) Full Cast! Yes, the audiobook made mI went into this book totally blind. TBF, I thought this was a thriller. Which it was, in a way...
What I Liked: 1) Full Cast! Yes, the audiobook made me happy!
2) Quick read.
What I Disliked: (or rant fest) 1) Character development? So Grace randomly appears and disappears from Louise's life and when she gets an explanation, Louise is immediately okay with it? Mel has a "secret friend" and no one, absolutely no one, knows about it? Delilah behaves weird? Ray? What the hell?
2) This book slipped into magic realism which I don't like. But that is a "me" problem.
3) The entire premise seemed somewhat off and the reveal was unsatisfactory.
4) The ending was abrupt? Is there going to be a sequel?
Final Thoughts:
I don't know... If you enjoy literary fiction with familial interactions and a dash of magic realism, you will like this. I am sorry it didn't work much for me (so much for going in blind). I think I would have loved to know more about Grace.
I have had Curtis Sittenfeld forever on my TBR (Eligible), and when I got this ARC, I was STOKED!!
The Story: Sally Milz is a screenwriter for the live I have had Curtis Sittenfeld forever on my TBR (Eligible), and when I got this ARC, I was STOKED!!
The Story: Sally Milz is a screenwriter for the live show The Night Owls. She writes funny, bold scripts for TNO though she is a cynical and anxious woman through-and-through. She believes that successful women marry not-so-successful men and not vice versa. She has even created a perfect comedy sketch for it called the "Danny Horst Rule."
When Noah "perfect-surfer-hair" Brewster becomes the musical host for the show one week, there may or may not be sparks flying between the rockstar and the reclusive writer. But according to the Danny Horst Rule, they shouldn't, after all.
Will Noah and Sally work it out in the end? Or is the Danny Horst Rule correct in all cases?
What I Liked:
1) Let me start by praising the Sally Milz stuff I liked. She is 36 at the start of this book - the same age as I am - and I was so happy to see that she acted like she was 36 and not some 17-year-old.
2) Sally is successful at her job and she LOVES her job. She is not actively looking for love or trying to "fill some gap in her life."
3) She is unapologetic about her life choices!!!
4) She is anxious and has foot-in-mouth disease (ahem, did someone mention moi)
5) Noah Brewster (enough of Sally?). He seemed like a genuinely nice guy? (I don't know why this feels so surprising)
6) I got to see the hectic lifestyle of background writers and actors of a live show. And I mustn't lie, it appealed to me. Working nights? Going to work in the afternoon? Sounds like my type of job!
7) The love story seemed organic and not insta.
8) The writing style. The first chapter happens in 2018, behind the scenes at the TNO. The second is epistolary with long, engaging emails. The third part is completely crazy but also totally lovable.
9) Loved the reminders to SNL (I also watched several sketches while reading the book).
What I Disliked:
1) The writing was tedious in the first "chapter" (for want of a better word). I get it, the author wanted to give us a clear idea of how the industry works but there was too much dialogue, some part of which could have been cut, methinks.
2) Sally panics A LOT. I get it. She is anxious. But there are only so many times you can insult someone AND they forgive you. Not only forgive you but say sorry themselves. WOW.
3) Noah's actions in the end? Sure, he explained but it did seem like a teeeeeeny bit of gaslighting but I am not a celebrity so what do I know? I am prepared to give him the pass for being so nice throughout.
Final Thoughts:
When I read the title, I automatically assumed that the heroine would be a bumbling, klutzy, doesn't-know-how-beautiful-she-is bimbo (which is usually the case, don't blame me). But I was pleasantly surprised. Sure, she doesn't know how beautiful she is, but she isn't a bimbo or bumbling or klutzy. She is comfortable in her own skin, has great female friends, and, as I mentioned earlier, loves and takes pride in her job. I can safely say I am in love with Sally Milz for being unapologetically herself.
If you are looking for a slow-burn romance (gasp! they actually know each other before falling in love!) with a strong heroine and a likeable hero, this is exactly what you should be reading!
4 stars!
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for the ARC....more
My first Zoje Stage and mixed feelings all the way...
The Story:
Grace has just bought a new home. Unfortunately, she lost her job due to the lockdown. My first Zoje Stage and mixed feelings all the way...
The Story:
Grace has just bought a new home. Unfortunately, she lost her job due to the lockdown. When her mother, Jackie offers to move in with her, Grace is unsettled but grateful for the monetary help her mother will provide. As soon as Jackie moves in, she starts changing things in Grace's home. She evokes memories of Grace's twin sister, Hope. As they pass through an infection scare and subsequent quarantine, Grace starts spiralling. And when Jackie accuses her of a terrible crime, Grace cannot believe what's true and what's false. With frequent nightmares and paranoia, Grace proceeds towards an ending that may be disastrous to both her and her mother.
What I Liked:
1. It was an absolute trainwreck of a book. I couldn't put it down at all. Finished it in a day and a half.
2. The characters are well-etched. One of the thrillers that concentrates on the characters.
3. Grace's descent into madness was so well-written, it was as if I was there.
What I Disliked:
1. The writing was...chaotic. It was more like a stream of consciousness narrative and made me crazy.
2. Grace. She came across as immature and prone to temper tantrums like a child.
3. The ending. I didn't understand it? Especially the epilogue?
Final Thoughts:
I've heard mixed reviews about Baby Teeth but wanted to read it anyway. When I saw this book on Netgalley, I couldn't resist. This book is good for a one-time quick read. It will grab your attention and keep you awake at night too.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas&Mercer for the ARC.
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